SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

ASA Position

ASA has grave concerns about the draft standard for sustainable agriculture, published as part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards setting process. The draft standard specifies that only organic and non-biotech production can qualify as “sustainable” production, effectively restricting eligibility to the 0.2% of commercial soybean acreage that is currently considered organic. While ASA is represented on the Standards Committee and the original draft standard has been set aside, ASA remains concerned about representation on the Committee and whether this process can lead to a sustainable agriculture standard that is accessible to the majority of American soybean farmers.

Background

On April 13, 2007, a draft standard for trial use titled “Sustainable Agriculture Practice Standard for Food, Fiber and Biofuel Crop Producers and Agricultural Product Handlers and Processors” SCS-001 was announced by ANSI. The draft standard was developed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) and published by Leonardo Academy, Inc. Leonardo Academy is responsible for maintaining the draft standard until its final submission to ANSI for approval.

The stated purpose of the standard is to establish a comprehensive framework and common set of environmental, social, and quality requirements to demonstrate that an agricultural product has been produced and handled in a sustainable manner.

As currently written, the draft standard would potentially exclude the majority of agricultural production in the United States from qualifying for “sustainability” labeling.

In March, 2008, ASA, the United Soybean Board, the U.S. Soybean Export Council and the National Association of Wheat Growers appealed the notice preceding publication of the ANSI draft standard to the Leonardo Academy. In April, 2008, ASA wrote to ANSI to protest the fundamental errors in notice and consultation leading to the draft standard and to ask for its withdrawal. The ANSI response was that ASA must exhaust the appeals process at Leonardo before appealing to ANSI. The Leonardo Academy’s response to the ASA/USB/USSEC/NAWG appeal was to re-announce the draft standard without changes “to ensure that all materially affected parties are aware of it and to extend the deadline for participation on the Standards Committee.”

In July 2008, ASA Director Ron Moore was named to the 58-member Standards Committee, and has since been elected Vice-Chair of the group. The Standards Committee decided at their first meeting to set aside the draft standard. Six new task forces have been established, which will guide the direction of standards development. The task forces are: Needs Assessment;  Mission, Vision & Principles; Metrics & Methodology; Resource Documents;  Funding; and Outreach.